Official Blog of the Frederick Keys – Advanced 'A' Affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles

Keys to the Offseason – New faces, O’s Fanfest & Player previews

We are well into the planning of all of the promotions, events and more here this offseason and 2012 will hopefully bring more great memories (and another championship) for all those in attendance.

With a new year comes new faces. The Keys added on four more full-timers this offseason. We would like to welcome the newbies – Maggie Dignan (Sponsorship Sales), Alyssa Moore (Group Sales) and Matt Houston (Creative Production). In addition to those three, 2011 Stadium Operations Assistant Travis Watts was brought on full-time as the Stadium Operations Manager. Also, the nine-month assistants that join the Keys are Derek LeComte (Public Relations Assistant), Catherine Larkin (Box Office Assistant) and Joe Welch (Group Sales Assistant). Taking over the responsibility of both the Marketing & Sponsorship assistant position is Bridget McCabe, in her second year with the team. Right off the bat, all of the new employees were introduced to the Orioles fan base at O’s Fanfest in Baltimore. If you missed it, here is a quick walk-around of the event held at the Baltimore Convention Center…

One of the newer features to this blog this offseason will be a look into who may make-up the 2012 Keys. Will Machado and Schoop be turning double-plays again in Frederick? Will we see top pick Dylan Bundy at Harry Grove this season? Here are two players you might see on the field for the Keys in 2012

Glynn Davis, OF Non-drafted Free Agent in 2010. Davis is considered a hidden gem inside the Baltimore Orioles organization. Ranked as the 19th best prospect in the organization by Baseball America, Davis wasn’t even drafted. Signed out of Catonsville Community College after putting up stellar numbers in the junior college ranks, Davis, who was draft eligible, wasn’t taken by anyone despite a big year at Catonsville. Yet after hitting over .400 in the All-American Amateur Baseball Association, a wooden bat summer league featuring college players, the Orioles decided to sign the promising 18 year old. Before shining over the summer in the AAABA, Davis hit .430 with ten homeruns and 35 stolen bases with Catonsville as he was a 3rd Rank Region XX All-American Nominee and the Catonsville Community College Male Athlete of the Year.

After signing, Davis was considered to have top ten round talent by Orioles scouts and he proved them right after an incredible first year. Blowing through the GCL after hitting .435, Davis continued his great play in Aberdeen, hitting .271 with a .337 on-base percentage. His 23 stolen bases were also a team high; he is ranked by Baseball America as the organization’s fastest baserunner. Defensively, Davis was responsible for four double plays from the outfield.

Mychal Givens, SS 2nd Round Draft Pick in 2009. Selected by the Orioles in the second round of the 2009 draft, Givens inked an $800,000 signing bonus moments before the August 15 deadline. After being touted by Baseball America as the Orioles seventh best prospect in 2011, Givens had a disappointing season. Between Delmarva and Aberdeen, Givens hit .243/.318/.290 as his OPS stood at only .608.

Givens battled a thumb injury in 2010, forcing him to miss over two months yet still hit .364 with three homers in eight games with Aberdeen after his return. He was called up to Frederick on the last day of the regular season and went 2-for-4. Overall in 2010, Givens hit .286/.402/.452 in 23 games.

At Plant (FL) High School, he was named the Florida 5A Player of the Year. In his senior year, Givens went 8-4 with 113 strikeouts and hit .374 with four homeruns and drove in 31 runs. In 2009 he received the Jackie Robinson Award, an honor given to the top rising high school senior in the Nation.

That is a wrap for now – make sure to check back for more player previews, promotional hints and more!

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